The cause of the colossal fire in June at a Boyle Heights cold-storage warehouse remains undetermined, but investigators found that the blaze started on the roof at or near solar panels that experienced an electrical malfunction, the Los Angeles Fire Department announced Tuesday.
The LAFD Arson Counter-Terrorism Section completed an investigation to find out what sparked the June 17 fire at the Lineage Logistics Inc. facility at 1400 S. Los Palos St., officials said. The blaze left tons of rotting food that fowled the air for weeks in neighborhoods near the warehouse.
The investigation found that the fire started on the roof “at or adjacent to a section of solar panels,” Fire Department officials reported.
“Based on the evidence examined, investigators determined that an electrical event occurred within the area of origin,” according to the LAFD. “However, since the specific cause of that electrical event could not be conclusively established, the incident remains classified as having an undetermined cause.”
Lineage released a statement in response to the findings.
“The report lists only one ignition source the LAFD could not rule out as a cause: ‘Solar panels and their connected components.’ As we’ve known all along, this is a solar fire.”
The LAFD’s completed probe comes amid litigation over responsibility for the fire, which heavily damaged the cold-storage facility and led to a more than two-month cleanup operation as millions of pounds of food inside the warehouse rotted.
Earlier this month Lineage sued Altus Power Inc., which owns the solar equipment on top of the warehouse, and contractor Pearce Services. The suit claims Altus and Pearce were responsible for igniting the fire.
Lineage has contended for months that the fire started on the roof as a result of a contractor working on the solar panels. The lawsuit alleges Altus and Pearce prematurely reenergized the solar array before completing key safety checks.
“Altus and Pearce’s negligence started the fire,” Lineage alleged in a Sept. 10 statement. “They abandoned Lineage to clean up the site on their own and ignored the Boyle Heights community. This was a solar fire, not a warehouse fire.”
A representative of Los Palos Street Operating, an Altus subsidiary, has disputed Lineage’s allegations and said the company would contest the claims in court.
“Lineage unfortunately continues to misinform the public,” according to a Los Palos Street Operating spokesperson. “Its statement today is in direct conflict with Los Angeles Fire Department’s finding that the cause of the incident is ‘undetermined.’”
The LAFD’s completed investigation does not identify any specific individual or group as responsible for the electrical event or establish its specific cause.
The fire destroyed much of the massive 500,000-square-foot facility, leaving frozen goods inside to rot. The subsequent noxious odors and a surge of rodents and insects prompted complaints from residents in surrounding communities and multiple fines against Lineage.
On Sept. 5, Lineage announced the completion of the removal and cleanup of over 89 million pounds of wasted food. The remediation and cleanup cost is roughly $100 million, according to the company.
District 14 Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights and other nearby communities, issued a statement following the Fire Department’s announcement.
“Determining what caused the Lineage fire matters — not only for accountability, but to help ensure a disaster like this does not happen again,” Jurado said. “But LAFD’s finding that the cause remains undetermined does nothing to alleviate what Boyle Heights residents have endured and are still carrying: months of health concerns and disruption, along with unanswered questions about whether this site can safely operate again.
Last week the Los Angeles City Council voted to withhold reconstruction permits for the warehouse and moved forward with measures intended to aid residents and enhance regulations governing large cold-storage facilities near residential neighborhoods and other sensitive sites.
“The fact that we still cannot explain how this catastrophe began is yet another reason I will continue opposing any permits to rebuild this facility,” Jurado said. “Boyle Heights should not be asked to accept a rebuilt operation while residents continue to bear the consequences and fundamental safety questions remain unresolved. This community deserves recovery, accountability and meaningful safeguards — not a rush to rebuild.”
Arson and Fire Investigation Chief Thomas Raymond said Tuesday, “The Department’s thoughts remain with all those impacted by this deeply tragic incident.”
The investigation’s report will be made available under applicable city policies and public-records requirements, LAFD officials said.
The fire erupted the afternoon of June 17 burned for about seven days, sending thick smoke into the air that prompted official warnings for nearby residents to stay indoors. Los Angeles County, city and California authorities issued emergency declarations in the days that followed.